Clamp for books



(No Model.)

J. Q. MOXLEY. CLAMP FOR BOOKS, 8w.

' Patented Oct. 6, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN QUINCY MOXLEY, OF L EWVISTON, IDAHO.

CLAMP FOR BOOKS, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 460,754, dated October 6, 1891.

' Application filed April 15,1891. Serial No. 389,041. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN QUINCY MOXLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lew iston, in the county of Nez Perces and State of Idaho, have invented a new and useful Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to books, and more especially to the temporary binders used in connection therewith.

The object of the invention is to produce an improved device capable, among other things, of holding the free edges of the leaves of hotel-registers, public books, and other volumes which are much handled or' which are being written in, in order that the corners or edges of these books may not becometurned up, wrinkled, or torn.

\Vith this in view as one object of my invention the latter consists in the specific details of construction, which are hereinafter described and referred to, and which are illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book with my improved clamp secured thereon. Fig. 2 is a considerably enlarged central transverse section through the clamp. Fig. 3 is a similar section through one of the hinges.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter L designates the lower member or lip of my improved clamp, which is of the shape best seen in dotted lines in Fig. l and is fiat throughout its body and slightly turned up at its rear edge, as at .E, and U is the upper member of this improved clamp, which is of approximately semicircular cross-section, as seen.

H H are hinges, whose leaves are located within the meeting edges of the upper and lower members and are connected thereto by rivets, and the abutting faces of these edges are recessed, as at B, so that the engaging eyes of the hinge-leaves may project therethrough. These eyes,'with the heads of the rivets, are ornamental to the device rather than otherwise, and the hinge-leaves are concealed from view on the inside of the two members of the clamp.

At the center of the length of this device are thumb-pieces P, whose inner ends are preferably made of approximately leaf shape and are riveted, respectively, to the upper and lower members of the clamp, as best seen in Fig. 2. Between these thumb-pieces (which,

the lower lip or member L passed under any number of leaves, the device pushed inwardly, the thumb-pieces pinched together to raise the upper member, and the latter passed over the edges of the leaves which are above the lower lip L. \Vhen in position, the device protects the edges of the leaves from being wrinkled or torn by the operators sleeve, and the device itself has no projecting points .or corners upon which the sleeve may catch, as the hinge-leaves II are upon the inside of the approximately-tubular back of the clamp.

The rounded shape of the lower member or v lip L facilitates its insertion between the leaves of the book and prevents the forming of corners, which would occur if this lip were rectangular, and which, it will be seen, I have endeavored to avoid.

The entire device is preferably of light cheap metal, suitably painted,- japanned, or nickeled, and may, if desired, be inscribed with advertising matter.

That is claimed as new is- The herein-described clamp, the same comprising a flat lower member with a rounded front edge and a straight rear edge slightly turned up, a semicircular upper member, its front edge resting normally upon said lower member and its rear edge standing above that of said lower member, the faces of said edges being recessed at intervals throughout the length of the device, hinges whose leaves are riveted within the approximately tubular back of the device and whose eyes project through said recesses, thumb-pieces riveted to the two members at about the centers of their lengths, and an expansive coiled spring between said thumb-pieces, the whole constructed and designed for use as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have heretoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN QUINCY MOXLEY.

Witnesses:

' P. M. DAVIS,

I. ALEXANDER. 

